I've just returned from attending the Annual Radio & Records Talk Radio Seminar in Los Angeles... plus...from also taking a few days of much needed r-and-r, which explains why blog postings have been absent the past week.
The Talk Radio Seminar was insightful, productive and loaded with industry power players: Bill Handel of KFI in LA (recipient of this year's Local Personality Of The Year Award), nationally syndicated talk show hosts Jim Bohannon, Rusty Humphries and Jerry Doyle...soon to be nationally syndicated Dennis Miller (show launches March 26th on Westwood One) and Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee (more on him later).
Also attending among the industry elite were Tom Tradup and John Butler of Salem Radio, Robin Bertolucci the esteemed Program Director at KFI, Phil Boyce of WABC New York, John Rosso of ABC Radio Networks, Gabe Hobbs of Clear Channel and Mark Masters of Talk Radio Network.
Upon returning I've noticed the political buzz in the media (or perhaps more like a murmur) is whether or not Senator Fred Thompson will announce his candidacy for the White House in '08?
Well I had the opportunity to spend a few fleeting moments of 1 on 1 time with the Senator last week and I came away with a couple of observations.
Interestingly I was more amused not by what he had to say...but instead...by what he did not say.
In other words, I found Senator Thompson to be very approachable, friendly and gregarious....except when I transitioned the conversation to presidential politics. At that point he became guarded, abrupt and actually walked away.
Additionally prior to a segment in which he was scheduled to address the entire audience we were instructed not to ask the Senator any questions about his presidential plans.
Sometimes it's not what you say, but what you don't say that speaks volumes.
This week I also attended the National Italian American Foundation Media Conference in LA. I had the opportunity to meet some interesting and accomplished people such as Ken LaCorte editor of FOXNews.com, Joe Cerrell (recently inducted in to the Political Consultants Hall of Fame) of Cerrell and Assoc. and Diego Brasioli of the Italian Consul General.
All in all it has been a busy week...
I would like to thank the fine women of The Navajo Canyon Republican Women's Federation for inviting me as their guest speaker at their monthly luncheon meeting this week. It was a great experience.
On a somber note, I see that Staff Sergeant Raymond Girouard was found guilty this week and that I am beginning to receive e-mail world-wide from people asking my opinion on the matter. Now that I am back in the saddle I will take a closer look at the latest developments and give you my take.
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